Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Gedi One Gal&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant variety characterized by a large decorative type inflorescence, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, free branching habit, and dark reddish-purple ray florets, which resist fading with age.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema morifolium and herein after referred to by the cultivar name ‘GEDI ONE GAL.’

[0002] This new cultivar was the result of hybridization of a female parent, ‘Tripoli’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,207) with a male parent, ‘Ampiro’ (unpatented in the United States). The new cultivar was selected in October 1997.

[0003] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cutting and meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The cultivar ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0005] The following traits have been repeatedly observe and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GEDI ONE GAL.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum:

[0006] 1. Large decorative type inflorescence;

[0007] 2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length;

[0008] 3. Free branching habit; and

[0009] 4. Dark redish-purple ray florets, resisting fading with age.

[0010] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are similar to plants of the parent cultivars in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent cultivar ‘Tripoli’ in the following characteristics:

[0011] 1. The new cultivar has a different bloom type;

[0012] 2. The new cultivar has many more ray florets than the parent; and

[0013] 3. The new cultivar has individual blooms resisting fading better.

[0014] The new cultivar also differed from the male parent ‘Ampiro’ in the following characteristics:

[0015] 1. The new cultivar has a wider diameter flower; and

[0016] 2. The new cultivar has different color ray florets.

[0017] The new cultivar can be compared to the Chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Jenny Wren’ (disclosed in Plant Pat. No. 10,213). However plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from the plants of the cultivar ‘Jenny Wren’ in the following characteristics:

[0018] 1. The new cultivar naturally blooms 2 weeks later;

[0019] 2. The new cultivar has darker reddish-purple ray florets;

[0020] 3. The new cultivar has a more round plant shape;

[0021] 4. The new cultivar has many more ray florets; and

[0022] 5. The new cultivar has ray florets which are resistant to fading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0023] The photograph shows a plant of ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ grown in a 2-gallon container. A single cutting was used in the pot, planted mid-May and grown under outdoor field conditions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in a commercial filed on Oxnard, Calif. in the month of September 2000. The growing conditions range from 60° to 65° F. at night to 70° to 85° during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

[0025] Botanical classification: Dendranthema mnorifolium cultivar ‘GEDI ONE GAL’

[0026] Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum

[0027] Parentage: Hybridization of female parent ‘Tripoli’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,207) and male parent ‘Ampiro ’ (unpatented in the United States)

Ppropagation

[0028] Type: Asexual vegetative

[0029] Time to Rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.

[0030] Rooting habit: Fine, fibrous

Plant

[0031] Growth Habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial

[0032] Height: Approximately 28 cm

[0033] Growth rate: Moderate

[0034] Branching Characteristics: Free Branching

[0035] Length of Lateral Branches: Approximately 23 cm

[0036] Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 28

[0037] Stem color: Near 137A

Foliage

[0038] Leaf:

[0039]Arrangement.—Alternate single

[0040]Average Length.—Approximately 7.8 cm

[0041]Average Width.—Approximately 5.2 cm

[0042]Shape of blade.—Ovate

[0043]Apex.—Acuminate

[0044]Base.—Attenuate

[0045]Attachment.—Stalked

[0046]Margin.—Serrate

[0047]Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent

[0048]Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent

[0049]Color.—young foliage upper side: Near 137A young foliage under side: Near 137B mature foliage upper side: Near 137A mature foliage under side: Near 137B venation upper side: Near 138C venation under side: Near 137C

[0050] Petiole:

[0051]Average length.—Approximately 3.0 cm

Bloom

[0052] Inflorescence:

[0053]Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length required to induce and develop blooms

[0054]Inflorescence form.—Decorative

[0055]Natural flowering season.—Approximately the last week in September, first week in October

[0056]Number of inflorescences per stem.—Approximately 15

[0057]Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 8.0 cm

[0058]Inflorescence depth.—2.2 cm

[0059]Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 24-29 days

[0060]Persistence.—Persistent

[0061] Ray Florets:

[0062]Appearance.—Matte

[0063]Texture.—Smooth

[0064]Average number per flower.—270

[0065]Shape.—Oblanceolate

[0066]Margin.—Entire

[0067]Apex.—Obtuse

[0068]Length.—Approximately 3.9 cm

[0069]Width.—Approximately 1 cm

[0070]Color.—upper surface at first opening: Near 59A upper surface at maturity: Near 59B upper surface at fading: Near 53B under surface at first opening: Near 53A under surface at maturity: Near 53B under surface at fading: Near 53B

[0071] Disc florets:

[0072]Appearance.—Shiny

[0073]Texture.—Smooth

[0074]Average number per flower.—Approximately 40

[0075]Shape.—Cylindric

[0076]Apex.—Obtuse

[0077]Average length.—Approximately 1 cm

[0078]Average width.—Approximately 0.2 cm

[0079]Color.—at first opening: Near 2A at maturity: Near 21 A at fading: Near 17D

[0080] Peduncle:

[0081]Length.—at terminal end (shortest): Approximately 7 cm at lateral end (longest): Approximately 11 cm

[0082]Strength.—Moderate

[0083]Color.—Near 137C

[0084]Habit.—Erect

[0085] Inflorescence bud:

[0086]Length.—Approximately 1 cm

[0087]Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm

[0088]Form.—Globular

[0089]Color.—Near 59A

[0090] Sepals:

[0091]Appearance.—Matte

[0092]Texture.—Lightly pubescent

[0093]Number.—Approximately 60 to 70

[0094]Shape.—Ovate

[0095]Margin.—Entire

[0096]Apex.—Acute

[0097]Color.—upper side: Near 137A under side: Near 137A

Reproductive Organs

[0098] Ray Florets:

[0099]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1 Stigma shape: 2 branched Stigma color: Near 7A Style color: Near 16D Style length: Approximately 0.5 cm

[0100] Disc Florets:

[0101]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1 Stigma shape: Cylindric Style length: Approximately 0.5 cm

[0102]Staminate.—Number of stamens per flower: Approximately 5 Anther shape: Tubular Anther color: Near 6A Pollen color: Near 7B

Other Characteristics

[0103] Disease Resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility observed ‘GEDI ONE GAL’: Table of R.H.S. Color Codes FOLIAGE Leaf young foliage upper surface Near 137A young foliage under surface Near 137B mature foliage upper surface Near 137A mature foliage under surface Near 137B venation upper surface Near 138C venation under surface Near 137C BLOOM Ray Florets upper surface at first opening Near 59A upper surface at maturity Near 59B upper surface at fading Near 53B under surface at first opening Near 53A under surface at maturity Near 53B under surface at fading Near 53B Pistillate: Stigma Near 7A Pistillate: Style Near 16D Disc Florets at first opening Near 2A at maturity Near 21A at fading Near 17D Staminate: Anther Near 6A Staminate: Pollen Near 7B Peduncle Near 137C Inflorescence Near 59A Bud Sepals upper surface Near 137A under surface Near 137A 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ as herein illustrated and described. 